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Prior to 1996, most in the agricultural markets didn't spend too much time worrying about what farmers fed their cattle. Prior to 2001, most in the financial markets didn't spend much time analyzing U.S. foreign policy. Prior to 2005, most in the financial markets didn't spend much time analyzing weather patterns. Prior to 2008, most in financial markets didn't spend much time analyzing the bubble in the real estate. Suffice it to say, things have changed as infectious diseases, terrorist activities, hurricanes, and mortgage loans have all made their presence felt in ways that shocked the world and financial markets. The impact from these events has been concentrated into a shorter time frame due to vastly improved means of communication across the planet. Therefore, the effect is more pronounced and sharp. But can we use "events" to make money? Apparently, it is not that easy. A well-known finance theory, efficient market hypothesis (EMH), suggests that it is impossible to beat the market. Because stock prices and other securities prices reflect all available, relevant information. Hence, all investors are privy to the same information, and no one will have the ability to out-profit anyone else. Therefore, there is "no free lunch" for anyone.

There are consistent characteristics that events have over time. You can begin to build a strategy or portfolio and be ready to take advantage of these events should they start to appear. Of course, no new event will be exactly the same as the previous event, nor will the exact timing be the same. This means that the trader needs to be flexible and creative in figuring out what area will be impacted and when.

This concept is somewhat the antithesis of program or model trading. World event trading (WET) requires an intimate knowledge of numbers and statistics, but not as the sole determinant for making money. This is more nuanced, more difficult, and more exciting. The results can be spectacular, as the events can generate extreme price movement and opportunities. These are the famous "3-tailed" or 3 standard deviation events that can destroy model traders who don't have strong risk management programs. To the uneducated, they seem to appear out of nowhere to disrupt trading.

As an example, look at what happened to Pacific Ethanol, Inc. (PEIX) after President Bush mentioned cellulosic ethanol in his State of the Union address in 2006. At first, everyone thought he just mispronounced something about energy. The chart below shows the jump in price and the sustained upward movement for this ethanol producer. This seemed to be a total surprise until one considered the desire by politicians to reduce the U.S. dependence on foreign oil and the impact of hurricanes on oil and gas production. What better way than to encourage the corn belt to become the Saudi Arabia of ethanol? It's interesting to note that Bill Gates' Cascade Investment LLC said in November 2005 that it planned to boost its stake in the Fresno, California, company to 27%.

Pacific Ethanol, Inc. (PEIX)

Source: S&P Capital IQ

This is one of the many reasons why we in the financial markets monitor what the president says in the State of the Union address, whether it's "cellulosic ethanol" or the "axis of evil." These are pieces of the political puzzle for the WET trader.

In the foreign exchange market, you need to take advantage of every opportunity, every edge you can to gain advantage over the market. Inefficiencies in the financial markets don't occur with regularity. Model trading quickly eliminates many of these. There are so many PhDs of statistics and math from Beijing to Bucharest analyzing different quantitative angles to trading that inefficiencies exist for only a short period of time. However, it's almost impossible to mathematically represent SARS, Hurricane Katrina, or a credit crunch. This is why you need an understanding of how an event develops and how to capitalize on the situation when it occurs. WET requires broader knowledge of the planet and how it has functioned during these events over time to generate outsized profits.

Important legal information about the e-mail you will be sending. By using this service, you agree to input your real e-mail address and only send it to people you know. It is a violation of law in some jurisdictions to falsely identify yourself in an e-mail. All information you provide will be used by Fidelity solely for the purpose of sending the e-mail on your behalf.The subject line of the e-mail you send will be "Fidelity.com: "

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Article copyright 2011 by Andrew Busch. Reprinted and adapted from World Event Trading: How to Analyze and Profit from Today's Headlines with permission from John Wiley & Sons, Inc. The statements and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author. Fidelity Investments® cannot guarantee the accuracy or completeness of any statements or data. This reprint and the materials delivered with it should not be construed as an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy shares of any funds mentioned in this reprint.

The data and analysis contained herein are provided "as is" and without warranty of any kind, either expressed or implied. Fidelity is not adopting, making a recommendation for or endorsing any trading or investment strategy or particular security. All opinions expressed herein are subject to change without notice, and you should always obtain current information and perform due diligence before trading. Consider that the provider may modify the methods it uses to evaluate investment opportunities from time to time, that model results may not impute or show the compounded adverse effect of transaction costs or management fees or reflect actual investment results, and that investment models are necessarily constructed with the benefit of hindsight. For this and for many other reasons, model results are not a guarantee of future results. The securities mentioned in this document may not be eligible for sale in some states or countries, nor be suitable for all types of investors; their value and the income they produce may fluctuate and/or be adversely affected by exchange rates, interest rates or other factors.

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